Every Sunday The New York Times features a couple in a short Vows video for its Weddings/Celebrations section. This week, we had the fortune of hearing the story of Dr. Hiroko Hosaka and Dr. Ryan David, a Jewish-Asian couple who met during their shifts in the pediatrics emergency room. Not only are they exceedingly sweet in their video, but they also have chosen to embrace the multiculturalism of their identities. According to the video, the couple plans to incorporate elements of both their Jewish and Japanese heritage into the wedding. Ryan explained, “We are having a Jewpanese style wedding – a cross between a Jewish traditional and Shinto – or Japanese wedding – so we will be doing a sake ceremony and following that, a breaking of the glass under the chuppah.” Their dedication to both Judaism and Japanese culture indicate the couple’s mutual respect and their desire to pass on the traditions of each other’s cultural identities. We know of many couples who maintain dual or multi-cultural homes while choosing Judaism as their household religion, and we encourage those who are still deciding to learn about the benefits of becoming a part of the Jewish community.

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